May 22, 2007

TORONTO – New data shows the Ontario government’s Wait Time Strategy is resulting in decreases in wait times for key health services in the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) area, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

“Trends in the Waterloo Wellington LHIN area are remarkable with significant decreases in wait times for a number of key health services,” Smitherman said. “Through the leadership and hard work of thousands of front line health professionals, the Wait Time Strategy is clearly achieving real results for patients by improving access to care, closer to home.”

As a result of the government’s Wait Time Strategy, wait times in which nine out of 10 patients have completed their surgery or have had their exam in the Waterloo Wellington LHIN area have decreased significantly since August/September 2005 by :

• 80.1 per cent for cardiac bypass surgery (117 days)
• 79.9 per cent for angioplasty (22 days)
• 52.2 per cent for cataract surgery (143 days)
• 44.2 per cent for CT scans (34 days)
• 40.0 per cent for hip replacement (167 days)
• 36.7 per cent for knee replacement (164 days)
• 12.1 per cent for angiography (four days).

• 2.9 per cent for cancer surgery (two days).

At the same time, Smitherman acknowledged one health service area that remains a challenge – there has been an 83.6 per cent increase in wait times in MRI scans since August/September 2005.

“We continue to make significant investments in MRI scans and we expect to see improvements in wait times for this area,” Smitherman said.

Since the launch of the Wait Time Strategy, the Ontario government has invested $40,966,416 for additional procedures in hospitals in the Waterloo/Wellington LHIN area, including :

• 7,017 cataract surgeries ($5,115,350)
• 7,710 cardiac procedures ($14,438,281)
• 2,231 hip and knee joint replacements ($15,748,186)
• 796 cancer surgeries ($3,501,899)
• 5,580 hours, 8,370 exams MRI ($1,898,200)
• 1,057 hours, 3,700 exams CT ($264,500).

The new wait time data is available at www.ontariowaittimes.com, which is closing in on nearly 4 million hits as of today.

"Our results are a direct reflection of the excellent collaboration and hard work of the many individuals and organizations involved. The Waterloo Wellington Wait Times Steering Committee and its five working groups will continue to focus on the people who are waiting and the steps that need to be taken to improve their access to care," said Sandra Hanmer, CEO of the WW LHIN.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait time and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public :
416-327-4327, or 1-866-532-3161

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